Have you wanted to try a Korean board game cafe but you don’t know what games you would play? Here are 10 games that I would recommend you play with friends at a Korean board game cafe. These are games that my friends play at cafes regularly. I’ve recommended options that I love and options loved by others.
Navigating the Korean Language Barrier
For many people who just arrived in South Korea, visiting a Korean board game cafe may feel impossible because the games will be in Korean. However, we never let that hold us back. There are a variety of tools you can use for navigating board games and language barriers.
YouTube
You can find the rules for almost any game on YouTube in English. In fact, to make things as simple as possible in this blog post, we have embedded an English language rules video for each game we recommend.
ChatGPT
We use ChatGPT app for 1) rules clarification and 2) for reading game Korean cards at board game cafes.
List of Common Games
Now that you feel more prepared to manage the language barrier, let’s take a look at some of the different games you might find at Korean Board Game Cafe. We have tried to include both easy and complex games with different play times.
Since I don’t have a lot of time, I went ahead and let ChatGPT summarize the games and we are glad that I did. The descriptions I had written were terrible. Trust me, you didn’t want to read my thoughts. You are are benefiting from my willingness to ask for help.
Splendor
Personal Thoughts: We’ve played this game hundreds of times. We love it.
- Korean Name: 스플렌더
- Players: 2 to 4 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 30 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Splendor is a strategic board game designed by Marc André and published by Space Cowboys in 2014. Set in the Renaissance era, players take on the roles of gem merchants competing to acquire prestige points by purchasing development cards. The game revolves around collecting and managing gem tokens.
The tokens are used as currency to acquire cards of varying costs and values. Development cards provide permanent resources and sometimes offer prestige points, contributing to a player’s overall score. Praised for its elegant simplicity, Splendor combines resource management, strategic planning, and competitive play, making it a popular choice among board game enthusiasts.
Game Rules:
Splendor: Pokémon
Personal Thoughts: We loved Splendor so much we bought a second version. This is my preferred version of Splendor. I love that my Pokemon can evolve in the game.
- Korean Name: 스플렌더: 포켓몬
- Players: 2 to 4 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Splendor: Pokémon, a variant of the original Splendor game designed by Marc André, incorporates the Pokémon theme into its established mechanics. In this adaptation, players collect Pokémon-themed resources and use them to acquire development cards that feature various Pokémon and items. The objective remains consistent with the original game: players aim to accumulate the most prestige points by purchasing and developing these cards.
The integration of the Pokémon theme introduces new visual and thematic elements, enhancing the appeal for fans of the franchise while preserving the core strategic elements of resource management and planning. Splendor: Pokémon is recognized for its successful fusion of a popular intellectual property with a well-established game system, offering both familiarity and novelty to players.
Game Rules:
Century: Spice Road
- Korean Name: 센추리: 향신료의 길
- Players: 2 to 5 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Century: Spice Road, designed by Emerson Matsuuchi and published by Plan B Games in 2016, is an economic strategy board game set in the spice trade of the ancient world. Players assume the roles of traders aiming to acquire and trade various spices to fulfill demand cards and accumulate points.
The game utilizes a card-driven system where players manage their hand of action cards to gain, trade, and convert spices effectively. Strategic decisions revolve around optimizing resource management and fulfilling specific contracts to maximize points. Century: Spice Road is praised for its streamlined mechanics and engaging gameplay, which offer a rich strategic experience within a relatively short playtime.
Game Rules:
Kushi Express
Personal Thoughts: I haven’t played this but I like other games of this genre and this game is recommended on board games blogs.
- Korean Name: 쿠시 익스프레스
- Players: 2 to 4 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 20 to 30 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Kushi Express, designed by David and Sun Hae, is a dexterity-based board game that combines elements of quick thinking and strategic placement. In this game, players take on the role of chefs in a bustling sushi restaurant, aiming to prepare and serve dishes using various ingredient cards. The game involves rapid matching and assembling of ingredient cards to complete orders, with players competing to efficiently manage their sushi preparation and delivery.
The mechanics focus on speed and accuracy, as players must quickly respond to changing orders and manage their resources effectively. Kushi Express is noted for its engaging, hands-on gameplay and its ability to create a dynamic and interactive experience through its emphasis on dexterity and quick decision-making.
Game Rules:
Da Vinci Code
Personal Thoughts: I haven’t played this game but others recommend it.
- Korean Name: 다빈치 코드
- Players: 2 to 4 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Da Vinci Code is a logic-based board game designed by Eric Solomon and published by Rio Grande Games. The game revolves around players attempting to decipher a series of hidden codes through deductive reasoning and logic. Each player receives a secret code that must be kept hidden while providing clues to others, who then use these clues to guess the code.
The game’s mechanics involve a combination of code-breaking and strategic communication, emphasizing the importance of both clarity and obfuscation in achieving success. Players find Da Vinci Code an intellectual challenge and they enjoy its ability to engage players in complex problem-solving scenarios.
Game Rules**:
**The following game rules are in Korean but you can turn on YouTubes Autotranslate captions to learn how to play.
Incan Gold
Personal Thoughts: I haven’t played this game but others recommend it.
- Korean Name: 잉카 골드
- Players: 3 to 8 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 20 to 30 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Incan Gold is a push-your-luck board game designed by Alan R. Moon and published by Rio Grande Games in 2006. Set in an ancient Incan temple, players assume the roles of adventurers seeking to collect the most treasure while navigating the perils of the temple. Each round involves exploring the temple and deciding whether to continue delving deeper for greater rewards or to exit with the treasure already collected.
The game mechanics emphasize risk management and decision-making, as players must balance potential gains against the risk of encountering hazards. Players enjoy Incan Gold for its engaging gameplay that combines elements of chance and strategy, making it accessible while maintaining a dynamic and interactive experience.
Game Rules:
Clue
Personal Thoughts: This is an easy place to start because most people have played this game in English before.
- Korean Name: 클루
- Players: 3 to 6 players
- Length of Play: Approximately 45 to 60 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Clue, designed by Anthony E. Pratt and first published in 1949, is a classic murder mystery board game that requires players to deduce the details of a fictional crime. Set in a mansion, the objective is to identify the murderer, the weapon used, and the location of the crime through a process of elimination and strategic questioning. Players move between rooms, gather clues, and make suggestions to systematically narrow down the possibilities.
The game’s mechanics involve both deductive reasoning and strategic social interaction, as players must carefully observe and interpret the clues provided by their opponents. Players love Clue for its engaging mystery-solving experience and its influence on the genre of deduction games.
Game Rules:
The Resistance: Avalon
Personal Thoughts: I don’t play this game but my family and friends love it. They play it often and with great joy.
- Korean Name: 레지스탕스: 아발론
- Players: 5 to 10 players
- Length of Play: 30 to 60 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: The Resistance: Avalon is a social deduction board game designed by Don Eskridge and released by Indie Boards & Cards in 2012. The game is set in the Arthurian legend and involves players secretly taking on the roles of loyal servants of Arthur or minions of Mordred. Players must embark on quests, with success or failure determined by the hidden roles, while the minions aim to sabotage the missions without revealing their identities.
The game mechanics rely heavily on player interaction, deception, and deduction. Players must discern the true allegiance of others to achieve their objectives. Players love The Resistance: Avalon for its intricate blend of strategy and social dynamics. The game provides an engaging experience that emphasizes communication and psychological insight.
Game Rules:
Power Grid
Personal Thoughts: This is a game I will likely never play, but other folks I know think it’s great. Perfect for anyone who likes Risk.
- Korean Name: 파워 그리드
- Players: 2 to 6 players
- Length of Play: 90 to 120 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Power Grid is an economic strategy board game designed by Friedemann Friese. He first published it in 2004 with Rio Grande Games. The game involves players competing as energy company managers, aiming to build and power the most extensive network of cities. Players must strategically bid on power plants, purchase raw materials such as coal, oil, garbage, and uranium, and manage their finances to optimize their electricity production.
The game mechanics emphasize the balance between expanding one’s network and efficiently managing resources. This reflects real-world economic principles of supply and demand. Power Grid is renowned for its depth and strategic complexity. The game offers players a dynamic experience where market fluctuations and competitive interactions play a critical role in determining success.
Game Rules:
Catan
Personal Thoughts: I play this with my students and we love it. It takes quite a while but it’s engaging and enjoyable.
- Korean Name: 카탄의 개척자들
- Players: 3 to 4 players (5 to 6 players with expansion)
- Length of Play: Approximately 60 to 120 minutes
ChatGPT Game Summary: Catan, designed by Klaus Teuber and first published in 1995, is a seminal game in the genre of modern board gaming. Set on an uncharted island, players take on the roles of settlers competing to build and expand their colonies through resource management and trade.
The game involves the collection of resources such as brick, wood, sheep, wheat, and ore, which are used to build roads, settlements, and cities. Strategic interactions among players, including negotiation and trade, are central to gameplay, reflecting economic and social dynamics. Catan is lauded for its innovative mechanics and the way it combines strategic planning with an evolving game state, making it a highly influential and popular game in the modern board game landscape.
Game Rules:
Board Game Cafes in Pyeongtaek
If you live in Pyeongtaek and would like to try some board game cafes, here are some locations to try:
What Games Do You Recommend?
We would love to hear what games you love to play at Korean Board Game Cafe. Share your favorite games
Pyeongtak Living 101 is a PIEF (Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation) Program that supports international residents living in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. The program provides classes, workshops, and information to make integration into Korean life smoother.
The Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation (PIEF), established in 2014, is a key organization in promoting global exchange and fostering international relations in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. PIEF’s mission centers around enhancing cultural understanding and cooperation, especially with the United States Forces Korea (USFK), local foreign residents, and citizens of Pyeongtaek, with the goal of becoming a globally recognized city.
PIEF operates three main centers: the Paengseong International Community Center, Songtan International Community Center, and the Pyeongtaek English Education Center. These centers provide various services, such as language education, cultural programs, and support services for foreign residents. The foundation focuses on strengthening the ROK-US alliance through community-building events, cultural festivals, and educational programs that aim to integrate both locals and international residents. Additionally, PIEF facilitates programs to support foreign residents in Pyeongtaek by providing interpretation, legal and immigration counseling, and other resources to help them settle in Korea.
By organizing diverse programs, such as the Global Supporters and Global Citizenship Fostering initiatives, PIEF actively promotes cultural exchange and global citizenship among Pyeongtaek’s residents. The foundation also seeks to enhance the city’s global reach through collaborations with other cities worldwide and through public diplomacy initiatives, aiming to position Pyeongtaek as a leading international city in Korea.
